Association of Genetic Variants With Outcomes in Patients With Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The clinical relevance of genetic variants in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is unsettled.

Objectives: The study sought to assess the prognostic impact of disease-causing genetic variants in DCM.

Methods: Baseline and longitudinal clinical data from 1,005 genotyped DCM probands were retrospectively collected at 20 centers.

Predictors of cardiovascular outcomes after surgery in severe tricuspid regurgitation: clinical, imaging and hemodynamic prospective study.

Introduction And Objectives: Severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a prevalent valve disease with a high mortality rate. Current guidelines do not define specific thresholds at which patients should be considered for surgery or percutaneous procedures. Thus, patients are usually referred for intervention at a late stage of the disease.

Intraventricular Conundrum in a SARS-CoV-2-Positive Patient With Elevated Biomarkers of Myocardial Injury.

We present a case of acute myocarditis with left ventricular dysfunction and intracavitary thrombosis in a 55-year-old man with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (coronavirus disease 2019) who was admitted with bilateral atypical pneumonia. The patient was treated with anticoagulation and optimal heart failure therapy and had an improvement of left ventricular function and thrombus resolution. ().

Contrast-Enhanced Echocardiographic Measurement of Left Ventricular Wall Thickness in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Comparison with Standard Echocardiography and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance.

Background: Left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) measurement is key in the diagnostic and prognostic assessment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Recent investigations have highlighted discrepancies in LVWT by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and standard echocardiography (S-Echo) in this condition. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of contrast-enhanced echocardiography (C-Echo) to optimize LVWT measurement in patients with HCM.

Structural abnormalities in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy beyond left ventricular hypertrophy by multimodality imaging evaluation.

Background: Echocardiography- and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR)-based studies have revealed a wide range of phenotypic manifestations in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) apart from hypertrophy. This study sought to comprehensively describe a number of structural abnormalities in HCM beyond hypertrophy, by multimodality imaging.

Methods: A total of 100 HCM patients were prospectively enrolled, undergoing standard and contrast echocardiography, and CMR.

A risk score to predict the absence of left ventricular reverse remodeling: Implications for the timing of ICD implantation in primary prevention.

Background: A prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in patients with heart failure and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) is only indicated when left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reassessment remains ≤35% after 3-6 months on optimal pharmacological therapy. However, LVEF may not improve during this period and the patient may be exposed to an unnecessary risk of sudden cardiac death. This study aimed to determine the incidence and predictors of the absence of left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) after pharmacological treatment optimization in patients with HFrEF to design a risk score of absence of LVRR.

Heterogeneity of aortic disease severity in patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome.

Objective: This study aimed to determine aortic disease severity in patients with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS).

Methods: Thirty-three patients with LDS diagnosed and followed up at our unit were included. After reviewing all family trees, 25 deceased family members with clear clinical suspicion of having had LDS were also included.